Breakfast Club, The - St. Croix, USVI

This property is no longer open.

Owner Toby Chapin's sumptuous breakfasts - try the banana pancakes - are the draw at the Breakfast Club, along with the unique 10-item menu. Located up an easy hill just outside downtown Christiansted, St. Croix, this modest property puts you within walking distance of the city's bright lights.

The Breakfast Club rambles up stairs and around corners, which gives the place an interesting and offbeat character not found at the island's more homogeneous hotels. The rooms are nicely furnished, with each one a slightly different decor and size. But at these rates, you shouldn't complain. Batik or india-print bedspreads add color to the room and the floors are ceramic tile. If you want air-conditioning, you'll have to forego a view in the one room where this amenity is available. The trade winds or ceiling fans cool the rest of the six rooms.

Each room comes with a private bath and kitchen, which makes it perfect for budget travelers who want to meet other adventureous folks in the combination bar and breakfast room or swaying in the hammocks.

There are no restaurants nearby, but the six-block walk downhill to Christiansted will wet your appetite for dining in any one of Christiansted's fine restaurants. Try Indies, tucked away in a courtyard on Company Street, for a nouvelle take on West Indian cuisine. It's also the place where locals meet and greet at the busy alfresco bar.

Christiansted is the jumping off spot for sails to Buck Island National Monument. This is a must see on any St. Croix vacation. You'll spend part of the trip snorkeling over colorful reefs at the island's eastern end. The skipper drops anchor for lunch at the western end, where you can swim ashore for a hike to the top of the island's small hill. The view is to die for.

There's no beach anywhere remotely near the Breakfast Club, but a rental car or taxi can zip you off to one of the island's upscale hotels for a few hours of sun.

If you plan to return from Christiansted after dark, a taxi will ensure your return safely to your home away from home.